Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-01-22
She paused moment; then went on,
in the least degree nervously:
"Shall tell you what l did?"

one paused moment; tnen went on,
in the least degree nervously:
"Shall tell you what l did9"
eyes"
II advertised, then, in the country pa
per-don't be shocked, please. At any
rate, l did it for the bcst-whether right
or wrong. don't quite know"
eco on"
'Tmerely said, then, that widow and
her daughters-all born to better things,
as it had seemed--were suddenly thrown
into the lowest depthsDof poverty-and
asked for help"
Uncle Fred gave sort of slight ner-
.vous start at this moment, but "Miss Jo-
sephinc did not notice it. She was
thinking only at that instant of the ter
rible struggle which had urged her to
take such a step as that which she was
now describing.
"And the result2" he asked, quietly.
"What was itg'
'sNo answer came" she returned,
gravely, but earnestly. Possibly those
who read the words did not believe in
their truth; or possibly some did so who
were not in position to aid u.s."
Il see." and Uncle Fred spoke now,
as if dreamily "There! | must leave
you, Miss Josephine. Very sorry for it
very sorry, indeed. Have just suddenly
remembered something. You'll excuse
my running away thus abruptly; won't
you2 Will be a tribe more courteous
next time. Horribly hard hearted of the
people; wasn't it, Miss Josephinea" And
thus talking glibly-as if, too, he did not
exactly know what he was saying-Uncl
Fred lifted his hat and disappeared.
The following Thursday morning. just
as "Miss, Josephine" was starting for her
usual daily occupation, letter was
placed in her hand by the postman; after
reading which, that young lady marched
deliberately upstairs again, removed her
hat and cloak, chased away with her
pock handkerchief great many tears
that for some reason or othef-would in
list upon pouring down her checks, and
then set to work ty to re-read the follow
ing words:
"DEAR MISS JosEPINE: Pardon my abrupt
,oave-tSking yesterday; but l will now ex-
plain. Returning home expressly by way of
the post-oifice, did & small stroke of busi-
ness there on my own account.
Miss Elsie Falconbridge was out, having
gone to spend the evening with the widowed,
and alas now childless mother, of her once,
and SO lately too, sailor lover. We have,
however, already spoken together-you and
I--of this unlooked-for event, and also of the
brave way in which Miss Elsie bears the
heavy blow.
But / would now speak Of something
else-so selfish are we all in this world, you
see. / persuaded the good dame, Janet Les
lfn Tn assist in eOrnafhinO which
puzzling me not little,
II heard last evening for the first time, Of
course-and also from your own lips, most
strange to say-that q twenty-dollar note,
which had sent you in answer to your ad-
vertisement asking for aid, never reached
you. 1t had not, now find, miscarried in
the ordinary way that letters do occasionally
go astray; but it was as impossible, you will
presently see. that it tshould ever have reached
your abode. as the residence of one of the
ancient patriarchs.
"The letter containing the amount named
was, it appears, although placed in regis
tered envelope for which duly paid, naver
dispatched; and in the hurry-skurry of the
moment it was never entered, either, in the
Off ial book. The fault was, of course, nv
own, quite as much as that of any one else;
but every one was asking hurried questions
at the moment, and my letter-yours, rather
pad the penalty. Then, as fate would have
gitimate post bag, and dropped, how is bes.
known to itself, behind a drawer that is
RAJ ely opened.
"Forgiye the details, however. Janet Lisle
had only discovered the thus hldden-away
missive half an hour before Iappeared upon
the scene-mark the ecoincidence-and was in
a state of no little CONSERVATION.
Picture also my own dismay.
s'The mystery, however. is now solved
II will not again tender the amount for
your acceptance, as there certainly seems to
be something unfortunate attending its ca
reer-beside which, on my part, am going
to ask a favor from yourself.
''Will you. ask, become my wife2-and
also kindly acknowledge promptly the re-
take it for granted that my second commu-
nication has shared the fate of my first.
UNCLE FRED"
'fMiss Josephine" like wise woman,
answered the letter just received by re-
turn of post.
The years have flown since then, and
matters go on much as usual in that
small township of Lammerton.
But there are changes, nevertheless.
Jane. Lisle knows her place no more
in the coy little postolfice. She has al
ready gone home long since to rest and
sweet Elsie Falconbridge is now the mis-
tress of everything.
Her hair, however, though still beau
tiful, is in these days white-white as
the driven snow. and the abiding ex-
preston upon her still handsome face is
that of one who has passed through q
mighty and also terrible sea of trouble,
and borne the trial only as true hero
inc could.
She knows, she says, that God has or
dered all. and that she shall see her
sailor lover again one day in heaven.
But there is still one person in the
world whom she loves dearly, and that
is the happy, true-hearted wife Of ''Uncle
Fred"
~ owe all--every bit, in fact-of my
happiness to you. sweetest Elsie, as Jo-
sephine says. 1T all dates from the day
don't you remember2--when you gave
me mullins and cruwpets."
"And also dispatched my registered
letter so carefully" remarks Uncle Fred,
quantity. -Frank Lcsiie's.
Ia